Predictive Adaptive Media Streaming Bandwidth Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media streaming technologies face challenges in dynamically adapting to varying network bandwidth, particularly with VBR encoded media, which can lead to playback buffer underruns and suboptimal bandwidth utilization, especially when using average bit rates for selection.
Innovation Solution
The method involves predicting the bit rates of VBR versions over a sliding window and selecting the highest bit-rate version that matches or is less than the current network bandwidth, using predictive bit rates to ensure seamless playback and maximize bandwidth utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the highest bit-rate VBR version is selected based on average bit rate, then bandwidth utilization is maximized, but playback buffer underrun risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the VBR media file to determine the maximum bit rate before streaming begins. This advance preparation allows the system to select appropriate constant bit rate versions that will not exceed the determined maximum, preventing buffer underruns while maximizing bandwidth utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the VBR media file into multiple constant bit rate versions with different bit rates. By converting from variable bit rate to constant bit rate representations, the system enables reliable bandwidth-based selection while maintaining the ability to maximize bandwidth usage through appropriate version selection.
2Reliability
If constant bit rate versions are used instead of VBR, then playback reliability improves, but bandwidth utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates multiple constant bit rate versions of the media content with different bit rates (e.g., 500 kbps, 1000 kbps, 1500 kbps). This allows the system to maintain playback reliability through constant bit rate streaming while improving bandwidth utilization by selecting the highest appropriate version based on available bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects among multiple constant bit rate versions based on real-time bandwidth conditions. This dynamic selection process enables the system to adapt to varying network conditions, maintaining reliability while maximizing bandwidth utilization by choosing the highest suitable version.
3Speed
If VBR media is streamed without preliminary analysis, then streaming speed is faster, but buffer underrun risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a quick preliminary scan of the VBR media file to identify the maximum bit rate before initiating the actual streaming process. This minimal preliminary analysis provides the necessary information to select appropriate constant bit rate versions without significantly delaying the streaming start time.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and corresponding apparatus for controlling streaming of media content from a server to a client. A computing device predicts the hit rate of an upcoming portion of the media content for each of a plurality of variable bit-rate versions of the media content, and uses the predicted bit rates, as well as a measure of network bandwidth, as a basis to select one of the variable bit-rate versions to be streamed to the client. By repeating this prediction and selection function on a sliding window basis over the course of the media content, the selection of variable bit-rate version can dynamically change, to help accommodate variations in bit rate throughout the media content as well as variations in network bandwidth.